ISSUE Number 73 'Lockdown Three Ahead?' Issue Date - 4th January 2021
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ISSUE Number 73
‘Lockdown Three Ahead?’
WATFORD BRANCH NEWSLETTER Issue Date – 4th January 2021
From the Chairman
W elcome to this month’s issue of the Watford Branch Newsletter, the first for 2021, though this may be a little
later in the month than usual as this has been a rather busy period with little spare time to devote to the
Newsletter…. Your committee hopes that everyone remains safe and well and that you were all able to make
the most of Christmas and the New Year celebrations (!?), within the rather strict Covid regulations that had to be
introduced at short notice. This meant that almost everybody’s plans for the festive season had to be hastily
rearranged with very little warning, unfortunately this may have resulted in many people spending the day on their
own, if so, you weren’t the only one!
The Covid situation seems to be escalating with the new strain taking the country by storm, the vast majority
of England now being in Tier 4 and other parts of the UK back in lockdown, though there seems little difference
between Tier 4 and lockdown in any case. It certainly looks like these restrictions, or even stricter ones, may be in
place to try and contain the situation until the new vaccines are rolled out to enough people to start to alleviate things
– this is going to take a considerable time even if the logistics run relatively smoothly.
Accordingly, we will be continuing to hold our monthly branch meetings virtually, via Zoom, as per usual on
the first Tuesday of each month, starting with the branch AGM, followed by Rob Freeman’s presentation ‘Gems from
the Casserley Photo Collection’, on 5th January.
December’s meeting was the traditional ‘Members’ Presentations’ and we certainly had some treats, though
we had to supply our own mince pies, sausage rolls and festive drink – at least Lizzie Davidson had an easier time than
is usual at this meeting (thanks for her efforts in the past, and hopefully again in the future)! A short report of this
meeting should appear soon in the RO and is already posted as the full version on the Watford Branch pages of the
RCTS website at: https://rcts.org.uk/watford/meeting-reports/ this also includes a couple of the photos shown by Mike
Watson (see below) – thanks to Mike and other presenters for a very entertaining evening.
If you are planning to join any of the Zoom meetings, there is now a new way of pre-registering for them,
directly on the RCTS website at: https://rcts.org.uk/branches/ and scroll down to ‘Virtual Meetings’ for all branches’
meetings. These also appear on the home page. You will need to be logged-in as a member to access the links, these
are also on the relevant branch events page, such as this one on the Watford Branch page:
https://rcts.org.uk/watford/events/ If you are already a member but haven’t registered on the site it’s advisable to do
so – if you run into any problems, please contact David Jackman at: webmaster@rcts.org.uk If you are a non-member
or visitor you are very welcome to join the meetings – please contact Rob Davidson at watford@rcts.org.uk for details,
or the relevant officer of the branch concerned.
You may notice that there is now a ‘donations are welcome’ link on the events pages of the branches too –
this takes you to a PayPal page where you can donate in units of £2.00 – you do not need to have a PayPal account
and other payment options are also available. Any donations go to the branch concerned, via ‘Head Office’, and will
help to defray costs, some of which continue even though we cannot have physical meetings, meaning the usual source
of donations has dried-up. Thanks to those of you who have already made donations to the branch.
A considerable number of branches are now holding their meetings via ‘Zoom’ – this means that on some
nights there is a clash and choices have to be made – this is due to most branches continuing to hold their meetings
on their traditional night – this was not a concern when meetings were physical in different parts of the country but is
becoming something of a problem when anyone from anywhere can join any meeting.
If you haven’t joined one of these meetings as yet, perhaps through worries about the technology, there is a
simple guide available on the RCTS website (thanks to Jeremy Harrison of the Croydon & South London Branch) which
can be accessed at: https://rcts.org.uk/croydon/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2020/07/Zoom-Simple-Meeting-
Instructions_V3.pdf there is no need to be logged-in as a member in order to read this guide. You will be made most
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with The Charities Commission. Registered number 1169995.
welcome at a meeting and helped out if you still have queries or misgivings. We look forward to seeing you all,
members, non-members, visitors, and guests! Many thanks to David Jackman for setting-up and running these
meetings on everyone’s behalf.
Those of you who have membership subscriptions including the hard copy of the RO should have received
January 2021’s issue before Christmas – if you haven’t received it this may indicate that you haven’t renewed your
membership as yet. If this is an oversight, you can renew via the website at: https://rcts.org.uk/renew/
Below: Sample Images from Mike Watson’s presentation shown at the December 2020 meeting.
Above Left: Ex-JZ Class 33 2-10-0 No. 33-248 just coming out of Bukinje depot, near Tuzla, Bosnia, on 10th June 2014. Note the
obligatory lookout on the bufferbeam step. This loco is assigned to the Kreka mine (Rudnici Kreka). The engine is a former Deutsche
Reichsbahn Class 52 'Kriegslok', No. 52 4779, built by MBA (formerly Orenstein & Koppel) No. 13830 of 1943.
Above Right: The same loco is seen at the Kreka mine (Rudnici Kreka), in the yard at the coal processing plant, alongside a Class
62 USATC S100 Type 0-6-0T. Photos Copyright © Mike Watson.
We have the usual mix of articles this month, again mainly from the same few members - if you would like to contribute
to future issues, please do get in touch with Geoff Plumb at watfordchair@rcts.org.uk – thanks in anticipation, and
thanks to those who have contributed this time once again.
Due to time pressures, I have not been able to include the next episode of the 1973 World Steam trip to Java, this will
continue next month – with luck!
Wishing all our members, visitors and guests the very best for the New Year, let’s hope things improve during
2021 and that everyone remains safe and well!
Geoff Plumb, Chairman, RCTS Watford Branch
***********************************************************
Member Leon Winsky sent in this steamy
photo – thanks to Leon.
Left: Stanier LMS 'Princess Royal' Class 4-6-2 No. 6201
Princess Elizabeth pauses at West Hampstead
(Overground) station whilst working 1Z82, the 08:43
'The Cathedrals Express' from London Victoria to
Norwich at 09:24¼ on Friday 11th November 2016,
hence the poppies on the headboard and
bufferbeam. Photo Copyright © Leon Winsky.
Page | 2
THE AUSTRALIAN NEW SOUTH WALES XPT, by Rob Freeman
As HSTs have been very much in the news recently, having been withdrawn from Great Western and East Coast main
line operation, I thought you might like to see some of my photos of the export version, which is also due for
replacement.
The XPT (Express Passenger Train) is the flagship of the limited long-distance train services that remain in NSW.
There are many differences from our own HSTs, the most obvious being the extra equipment (eg for air conditioning)
on the roof, making them taller. The power cars-built under licence in Australia- are also 50cm shorter. The Paxman
Valenta engine was downrated to 2,000hp(replaced by a Paxman VP185 from the year 2000) and the train has a
maximum speed of 160km/h, though there are not many stretches where this can be achieved! On test 193km/h has
been achieved (they were aiming for 200!) The Mark 3 coach was not suitable for Australian railway conditions, so the
trailers are based on a Budd design. The trains are maintained in Sydney, at Meeks Road depot.
There are just 19 power cars numbered XP2000-2018 and sixty trailers, built in batches from 1981-1994. So
this means you can’t expect to roll up and see one every few minutes as was the norm in this country! Careful reading
of the timetable is necessary when photographing them. Each day there are pairs of services from Sydney ,south to
Melbourne, west to Dubbo, north to Brisbane and part-way north to Grafton/Casino. So, the best place to see them
for the first time is Sydney Central as all services arrive or start there, but out in the country if you miss one, you will
have to come back tomorrow! The train is treated like hauled stock, in that coaches can be added or removed
according to demand. When only a few coaches are needed just one power car can be used, though I never witnessed
this myself. The power cars were all named after places served by the XPT, but the names have now been removed.
And so to some photos:
Below: Like our own HSTs, the XPT has carried different liveries over the decades. I can only show you the first two, as I visited
Oz in the 1990s and not again since sadly. Here we see a set in its striking original colours at Sydney Central in August 1991.
The leading power car is XP2005 City of Newcastle. All photos Copyright © Rob Freeman.
Page | 3
Left: At this time in August 1991 the
sets were being put into Country Link
livery. Here is a set in mixed colours
arriving through the yard at Sydney
Central.
Right: And here at the buffer stops we
see one power car in each livery.
XP2003 Orange in the new livery has
‘City of’ dropped from its name, while
the one in original livery seems to have
lost its name entirely. Note the red
noses! In Australia this is for a specific
cause: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
research.
Left: Moving north away from Sydney
now and forward a couple of years to
17th August 1993 and all the sets are
now in Country Link colours. Here a
Sydney-bound set with power cars
2001 Dubbo and 2003 Orange is
passing the pretty little station of East
Maitland in the Hunter Valley, looking
splendid in the morning winter
sunshine (It’s the Southern
Hemisphere!).
Page | 4
Right: This is the view from beyond
the other end of East Maitland
Station as a northbound set with
2006 Wagga Wagga passes, also on
17th August 1993. This is an
extremely busy stretch of 4-track line
between Broadmeadow (Newcastle)
and Maitland. The nearest pair of
tracks see local Hunter Valley and
long distance passenger services as
well as interstate and other freight.
The pair of tracks to the right of the
XPT are the coal roads and a constant
procession of massive coal trains
passes carrying export coal, hauled
by up to four locomotives. There are
also grain, steel and other freights. It
is therefore one of the most
rewarding spots in Australia for the
enthusiast to visit.
Left: Some train in the landscape shots
now which convey something of just
how large Australia is: the XPT is
dwarfed by the landscape! The
location for these three photos is
Bundook, some 300 kilometres north
of Sydney on 23rd August 1993.
Below Right: This is the main line corridor between Sydney in NSW and Brisbane and Queensland. Just look how it twists and turns
following the contours of the
landscape, not exactly conducive to
high speed running! It is also just single
track with passing places for hundreds
of kilometres. Transit times for
interstate freight have become such a
problem that a brand new 1700km
Inland Rail project is underway to link
Melbourne in Victoria directly with
Brisbane, by-passing the Sydney urban
bottleneck and this tortuous route
north altogether.
Notice also how dry the countryside is
as the XPT passes by a small billabong.
My Australian friends are always
amazed by how green our country is in
comparison.
Page | 5
Left: And this is the going away
shot. Toy train in the landscape!
Right & Below: Interesting goings-on
at Grafton City station. (The Aussies
are rather liberal with the use of the
word ‘City’!) An XPT has come to
grief by hitting a cow on the line and
here we see power car 2008
Goulbourn on its way to replace its
damaged classmate. It is proceeding
solo and is awaiting the single line
section to clear. 22nd August 1993.
Page | 6
Right & Below. Another country scene and
this time we are at the passing loop at
Nana Glen, some 600km north of Sydney
and still 440kms from Brisbane! Power
cars 2014 Grafton and 2011 Sydney are in
charge.
Below Right: For the 2000 Olympic
Games in Sydney, it was entirely
appropriate for conveniently
numbered power car 2000 to be
chosen to promote them. Here we
see it at Hornsby in the early morning
sun making its pick-up stop on its way
to Brisbane in December 2000.
Hornsby is an important
junction on the Sydney rail
network. It is where the
suburban North Shore Line (out
of sight to the left) which has
come from Sydney Central via
the Harbour Bridge meets the
main line to the north which
has come from Central via
Strathfield, as this XPT has
done.
I was paying a lightning visit to
Oz (sadly my last to date) to see
my brother for Christmas that
year and had escaped for a
day’s spotting in the Maitland
area featured above. It turned
out to be 40 degrees in the
shade. A local took pity on me
while I was photting and came
out of his house with a cold
drink!
Page | 7
Perhaps saving the best for last, on 16th August 1993 we are on the Sydney to Newcastle main line known as the Short North. This
is the most spectacular feature of this line, the Hawkesbury River Bridge at Brooklyn. It was built in 1946 to replace the original
1889 structure which had to be replaced because of weaknesses in its piers. These piers are still there today though, just out of
shot to the right.
2001 Dubbo is heading a Sydney-bound working. Just ahead of it is the formidable Cowan Bank where even modern multiple
diesel-hauled freights are reduced to walking pace. I have been on a train up it with preserved Pacific 3801, but that’s another
story!
Once again, many thanks to Rob!
***********************************************************************************
From Rob Davidson, another
style of high speed train!
Right: In the days when international
travel was still allowed! Eurostar unit
No. 373218 stands in Platform 6 at
London's St. Pancras International
station at 08:37¾ on Saturday 22nd
December 2018. Photo Copyright ©
Rob Davidson.
Page | 8
Railway Exhibitions Part 8, ‘Tyseley Open Weekend, 22nd – 23rd June 2019’. By Humphrey
Gillott.
All Photos Copyright © Humphrey Gillott. Extra
historical notes added by Geoff Plumb.
Left: Ex-GWR Pannier Tank 0-6-0 No. 7752 giving
rides at Tyseley Warwick Road station.
The engine was built by North British, Works No.
24040 of 1930, and spent much of its life allocated to
Tondu MPD (86F, later 88H). It was withdrawn on 1st
November 1959 and sold to London Transport,
becoming their No. L94. It lasted to the end of LT
steam in June 1971 and was then sold for
preservation.
Right: Class 47 No. 47773 (D1755) at the
bufferstops, Tyseley Warwick Road station.
D1755 was built by Brush and entered service on 14th
August 1964, allocated to 87E Landore. It was
renumbered to 47541 in November 1974 and named
The Queen Mother in October 1982, until February
1991. It was renumbered again to 47773 in January
1994 and named Reservist from August 1994, though
was renamed again to The Queen Mother in August
2002. It was withdrawn on 1st February 2004 and sold
to EMR for scrap, though was purchased for
preservation in March 2007.
Left: Stanier ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 No. 45596
Bahamas.
LMS No. 5596 was built by North British, Works No.
24154, going into service from January 1935. Its final
allocation was to Stockport Edgeley MPD (9B, whose
shedcode plate it is carrying in the photo) from July
1962. Its non-standard double-chimney was fitted
during 1961. Withdrawn in July 1966 it was sold to
the Bahamas Locomotive Society in mid-1967. It was
restored to working order by Hunslet Engine
Company, Leeds, and was then based at Dinting until
that closed in 1990, after that moving to the Keighley
& Worth Valley Railway.
Page | 9
Right: Bahamas (left) alongside sister
‘Jubilee’ No. 5593 Kolhapur.
No. 5593 was part of the same batch as 5596,
built by North British as part of Lot No. 118,
Works No. 24151, into service from
December 1934. Its last allocation was to
55A, Holbeck MPD, from 23rd March 1965; it
was withdrawn on 12th October 1967 and
sold to the Standard Gauge Steam Trust (now
7029 Clun Castle Ltd.) in January 1968, later
restored at Tyseley.
Left: ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun
Castle, in the cavalcade.
Built at Swindon Works by BR(W), No.
7029 commenced service from 25th May
1950, based at 83A, Newton Abbot.
Transferred to 81A, Old Oak Common, on
2nd July 1962, its final move was to 85B,
Gloucester Horton Road, from 5th October
1964. It was withdrawn on 31st December
1965, the end of steam on the Western
Region. Sold in working order, initially to
Patrick Whitehouse in 1966, it worked the
odd freight train around the Birmingham
area for a few months before its first
passenger run in preservation in March
1972.
Right: Bahamas; ‘Hall’ Class 4-6-0 No. 4965
Rood Ashton Hall and Clun Castle during
their series of ‘Run-pasts’.
Page | 10Left: 7029 Clun Castle and 4965 Rood Ashton
Hall.
When bought for preservation, No. 4965 was
thought to be No. 4983 Albert Hall, due to a
change of identity during an overhaul at
Swindon which combined parts from both
engines, mainly the boiler from 4983 and the
frames from 4965. As the identity is taken
from the frames, the engine once again
became 4965!
Right: 45596 Bahamas.
Left: The replica L&NWR (Southern Division)
‘Bloomer’ Class 2-2-2 No. 670.
Work on the James McConnel designed 2-2-2
replica began in 1986 and reached a fairly
advanced state, though missing the driving
wheels, before other priorities meant it was side-
lined. It is hoped that work will recommence
shortly to finish the loco - plus some appropriate
replica coaches to go with it! Seventy-four
engines were built from 1851 to 1862, of three
different types – ‘Large Bloomers’ with 7’ 0”
driving wheels, ‘Small Bloomers’ with 6’ 6” drivers
and H Class ‘Special Bloomers’ with 7’ 6” driving
wheels.
Page | 11Above: Inside the workshop: Including from the left: ‘Hall’ Class 4-6-0 No. 4936 Kinlet Hall; ‘Grange’ 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton
Grange and BR Standard Class 8P Pacific 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester.
There is more from Humphrey later in the newsletter – many thanks!
******************************************************************
The most recent arrival on the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire
Steam Railway, photographed
by Rob Davidson.
Above & Right: Class 20 No. 20228 (D8128) at
Toddington station loco depot on Saturday
19th December 2020, newly arrived from the
Barry Tourist Railway. The loco is owned by the
same group that owns the railway’s other
Class 20 (No. D8137 / 20137) and will be
staying on the GWSR. This was one of the locos
that worked on the CFD in France for a while,
as their No. 2004. Photos Copyright © Rob
Davidson.
Page | 12James Milne has sent in the photos below as an exercise in your ability to identify some
loco types/classes from shots of parts of their motion! Answers will be published in the
next Newsletter… Please send your identification efforts to James at
development@rcts.org.uk - thanks to James for this contribution. No prizes (not even a tin
of Norwegian Wood-Smoked Brisling!) but plenty of Brownie points if you can add further
details such as loco number and location - good luck.
No. 1 – taken in October 2009
No. 2 – taken in September 2016
Page | 13No. 3 – taken in December 2019
No. 4 – taken in October 2016
Page | 14No. 5 – taken in August 2019
No. 6 – taken in February 2009
Thanks to James, and please submit your answers to him by 25th January 2021!
***************************************************************************
Below is another sample photo that should appear in Bernie Holland’s presentation ‘This is Luxury I Can’t Afford!’ to
be delivered to the Watford Branch on 2nd March 2021.
Right: View taken from the cab of 91122
working 1S11, the 10:00 Kings Cross to
Edinburgh, during an official cab ride as
far as York, arranged by Driver Training
Manager, Mick Barstow on Saturday 16th
April 2011. The time is 10:39 and we are
running two minutes behind schedule
here at Conington Loop, where we are
about to overtake 4492 Dominion of New
Zealand heading a steam special from
Kings Cross to York. (Photo Copyright ©
Bernie Holland).
Page | 15‘Steam locomotives now preserved,
photographed while working for British
Railways’, Part 6. By Humphrey Gillott.
All photos Copyright © Humphrey Gillott
Left: Bulleid ‘Merchant Navy’ Pacific 4-6-2 No. 35028 Clan Line has
just arrived at Bournemouth Central, on Bank Holiday Monday 29 th
August 1966, with the 12.32pm to Waterloo (the 11.25am from
Weymouth).
Right: Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312
at Bournemouth MPD (Coded 70F at the
time) on Sunday 28th August 1966.
Left: Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 No. 48773, at Rose Grove, in July 1968.
Page | 16Right: NER Raven Class Q6 0-8-0 No. 63395, having its tender
replenished with water at West Hartlepool, in July 1966.
Below: Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76079 at Springs Branch
(Wigan), in July 1967.
Above: ‘Britannia’ Class Pacific 4-6-2 No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell at Carnforth MPD (10A) in July 1966.
Thanks to Humphrey once again.
****************************************************************************
Below: A panoramic view looking south from the old footbridge at Stratford-upon-Avon station at 12:08 on Sunday 19th February
2017. On the right, Chiltern Railways No. 165 022 has arrived into Platform 3 with 1D19, the 09:43 from Marylebone, which then
formed 2L33, the 12:46 departure to Leamington Spa. Photo Copyright © Geoff Plumb.
Page | 17‘World Steam’ Tour of Java, 1973, by Geoff Plumb – Part 5
Unfortunately, I have not had enough spare time during the festive period to be able to write Part 5 as yet, so this is
being held over until the next issue of the Newsletter, please accept my apologies. Below is a taster photo from later
in the trip, however, just to whet your appetites!
PNKA (Indonesian State Railways) Class CC50 2-6-6-0 Mallet No. CC50 03 starts away from Tuntang station with an early morning
train from Kedungdjati to Ambarawa in mountainous Central Java, across the River Tuntang flood plain (Lake Rawa Pening).
Wednesday, 1st August 1973. This engine was built by Werkspoor of Amsterdam in 1928, Works No. 560.
Photo Copyright © Geoff Plumb.
There is a rudimentary railway map of Java with the first part of this article in Newsletter No. 69
To be continued…
************************************
Humphrey Gillott showed some photos from
Forders Sidings at the December 2020 ‘Members’
Presentations’ meeting – here’s another from
nearby Stewartby station, since rebuilt during the
resignalling scheme of 2004.
Left: Class 121 ‘Bubble-Car’ units Nos. 121 027 Bletchley
TMD, in Silverlink livery, and 121 031 Leslie Crabbe in
Network SouthEast livery, passing Stewartby Brickworks
and entering the station with an afternoon train from
Bedford to Bletchley, on Wednesday 28th April 1999. The
train is about to pass Stewartby’s Home signal, Forders
Sidings ‘box just visible in the far distance. Photo
Copyright © Geoff Plumb.
Page | 18As is now usual, a ‘Three-Dimensional’ picture to finish off this month’s Newsletter.
LMS Stanier ‘Princess Royal’ Class 4-6-2 No. 46201 Princess Elizabeth was stored for a while at Dowty's yard in Ashchurch, prior
to restoration to main line running. Almost in ‘as bought’ condition from BR here she is on Sunday 4th July 1965 – something of a
contrast to Leon Winsky’s photo earlier in the Newsletter!
The photos are a ‘Cross Stereo Pair’, and thus when looked at correctly, form a 3D image. In order to view these images, sit well
back from your screen, look at the join between the two photos and then attempt to go ‘cross-eyed’, focusing your eyes just
beyond the end of your nose as it were. It takes some practice, but eventually the two images will merge in the middle and produce
the 3D image in the centre (you will still see images to the left and right of the 3D image). Once you have got it, yours eyes will
‘lock-on’ and you can look around inside the image. Enjoy, but don't strain your eyes! Once your eyes have ‘locked-on’, you can
hide the side images by holding your hands up a few inches in front of your face with a gap of a couple of inches between them.
Unfortunately, the technique used for producing the image cannot be used for moving trains! Photo Copyright © Geoff Plumb.
*******************************************************
That’s all folks, for this month’s Newsletter, I hope you have enjoyed it!
Please do get in touch with me at watfordchair@rcts.org.uk if you have any material that you would like to submit
for publication.
Your committee would like to pass on their best wishes for 2021 and perhaps the restoration of a little more
freedom before too long! In the meantime, please stay safe and well.
Geoff Plumb, Chairman, RCTS Watford Branch
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with The Charities Commission.
Registered number 1169995
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